Students ask feds to probe USC rape investigations

LOS ANGELES (AP) — University of Southern California students have filed a federal complaint alleging the school ignored or mishandled sexual assault and rape cases.

Students who alleged they were raped held a news conference on Monday announcing that they filed a complaint in May with the U.S. Department of Education. They say the school failed to take action against alleged attackers, even when they confessed.

The Education Department says a civil rights investigation is underway.

USC official Jody Shipper says the school will cooperate with federal officials on the inquiry.

Similar complaints have been filed against other schools around the nation, including Occidental College, UC Berkeley, Dartmouth, Swarthmore and Yale.